European Parliament members urge action against Russian Houses

More than 70 members of the European Parliament have called on EU leadership to establish a coordinated approach to address the activities of ‘Russian Houses’ operating across 15 member states.

The initiative, spearheaded by Lithuanian MEP and former defense minister Rasa Juknevičienė, alleges that these cultural centers serve as hubs for Russian espionage, propaganda, and information manipulation designed to interfere in EU affairs. The group of signatories has addressed a formal request to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

The MEPs are urging the European Commission and the European External Action Service to develop legal instruments at both the EU and national levels to dismantle these structures. While the European Commission has previously stated that decisions regarding the closure of individual centers remain the jurisdiction of individual member states, the MEPs argue that national sovereignty should not preclude a unified European response to Kremlin influence.